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The challenge of shifting paradigms : social workers exercising the ecosystems perspective

This dissertation demonstrates and illustrates the challenges involved in the construction of new
realities when Duhl's (1983) idea of using metaphor to apply the ecosystems concept of wholeness
of systems, was exercised in two ways.
Firstly, the study was written in the form of an imaginary conversation between the author in the role
of researcher and an imaginary peer consultant, about making sense of ways of thinking. Through
presenting her observations to other observers, who are actually herself, a new reality was
constructed for the author. Secondly, new individual and group realities were constructed by a group
of social workers in the SANDF, who encountered their own ways of thinking through metaphorical
means such as sculpting.
Recommendations, co-constructed by the author, the imaginary peer consultant and two more
imaginary colleagues, suggest possible uses of the ecosystems perspective in social work including
in settings such as the SANDF. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/18003
Date03 1900
CreatorsDicker, Janet Linda.
ContributorsVan Delft, Willem Friedemann
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDissertation
Format1 online resource (206 leaves)

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